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16 Level of Traffic Stress Comfort and convenience greatly influence whether individuals choose to walk or bike. Developed in 2012 at the Mineta Transportation Institute3, the Level of Traffic Stress (LTS) analysis is the nationwide best practice methodology for assessing traffic stress experienced by bicyclists or pedestrians while traveling along a roadway or crossing an intersection. While perceptions of stress may vary across individuals, the LTS analysis is based on measurable roadway and traffic characteristics that influence user comfort and safety. The LTS methodology combines these characteristics to assign a score from 1 to 4, representing increasing levels of stress experienced by pedestrians or bicyclists under existing roadway and traffic conditions, as described in Table 2. Table 2: Level of Traffic Stress Score Descriptions (for BLTS and PxLTS) Score Description LTS 1 Lowest stress walking and bicycling environment. Users of all ages and abilities feel comfortable and safe walking or bicycling in these locations. LTS 2 Low- to Mid-stress walking and bicycling environment. Most adults are comfortable walking and bicycling in these locations. LTS 3 Moderate-stress walking and bicycling environment. Confident adults will tolerate walking and bicycling in these locations. LTS 4 Highest stress walking and bicycling environment. Only those with a high level of confidence or without other options will walk or bike in these locations. The following section summarizes the results of two LTS analyses applied to Focus Network corridors: Bicycle Level of Traffic Stress (BLTS), which evaluates bicycling conditions along roadway segments, and Pedestrian Crossing Level of Traffic Stress (PxLTS), which assesses pedestrian comfort and safety at crossings. Bicycle Level of Traffic Stress (BLTS) The BLTS (Figure 7) evaluates the quality of the bicycling experience across Pleasanton by assessing how comfortable or safe it feels to ride alongside traffic. The analysis considers multiple factors , including average daily traffic volumes, posted speeds, number of lanes, one-way streets, type and width of bicycle infrastructure, parking lane width, and the presence of marked centerlines or dual carriageways. The original analysis was conducted in 2018; scores were updated for Focus Network segments that have been upgraded since then, whether through the installation of new or enhanced facilities, or by speed limit reduction. In places where northbound and southbound facilities received different scores, the more stressful score is shown on the map (unless the facility includes a Class IV raised separated bikeway on one side only such as on Foothill Road and Stoneridge Drive; in those cases, both facilities are shown on the map). Most of the Focus Network scores BLTS 3 or 4, revealing high-stress conditions for bicyclists navigating major arterials in Pleasanton. Some of the major factors influencing BLTS on these corridors are speeds greater than 30 mph, high traffic volumes, and limited space and separation between bicyclists and vehicles. Some segments on 3 Mekuria, M.C., P.G. Furth, and H. Nixon. Low-Stress Bicycling and Network Connectivity. Research report 11-19, Mineta Transportation Institute, 2012.